Ann Arbor area unemployment rate was Michigan's lowest in January
Washtenaw County had the lowest unemployment rate among Michigan's 83 counties in January, according to statistics released today by Michigan's Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth.
The region's unemployment rate edged upward from 9.2 percent in December to 9.3 percent in January, but that was notably better than most of the state. Seventy-six counties reported increases in their unemployment rates with a average uptick of 0.7 points.
State officials had previously reported that December's unemployment rate in the Ann Arbor area was 9 percent -- but they've since adjusted those figures based on a yearly analysis.
The Ann Arbor region's jobless rate was up from 7.0 percent in January 2009 as the number of unemployed workers increased from 12,900 to 16,800 in January 2010. The number of jobs in Washtenaw County slipped from 171,900 in January 2009 to 164,600 in January 2010.
Michigan's unemployment rate in January was 14.3 percent. The U.S. unemployment rate was 9.7 percent.
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Comments
njgreg
Sat, Mar 20, 2010 : 4:08 p.m.
For all the conservative talking points we're bombarded with each day suggesting that "liberalism" is the enemy of a strong economy, its funny that the unemployment rates are the lowest, and that the economy is the strongest in those areas renown for their "liberalism" (i.e. Ann Arbor--the lowest unemployment rate in Michigan, and arguably, the most liberal community in the state; and San Francisco, perennially strongest economy in another financially troubled state, and again arguably the most liberal).
CynicA2
Sat, Mar 20, 2010 : 12:19 a.m.
@David Cahill - the reporting system tends to undercount the unemployed, regardless of locale or region, and I doubt it is any different for Ann Arbor. The point is that the number is relatively high and growing, and that the number of jobs available continues to decline, locally, regionally, statewide or whatever. @Clownfish - Not all areas are experiencing the type of declines that we are in Michigan, some are even growing - that's why so many people are leaving, especially the younger, well-educated ones - they head out to Austin or Boulder or someplace where the economy isn't swirling towards the drain. So it's not really the same pearls or pig everywhere. I agree that politicians have been cooking the unemployment numbers for many years - they certainly have lots of reasons to want them to look better than they are. Michigan is just the worst-case example.
clownfish
Fri, Mar 19, 2010 : 7:56 a.m.
"This headline is quite misleading."-CynicA2 Ann Arbor area unemployment rate was Michigan's lowest in January Which community has lower unemployment figures than the A2 area? Which communities have seen less shrinkage in jobs, or have seen job growth? I think the whole country has seen a drop of 4-5%. It's the same pig, same pearls across the land. No official unemployment numbers track those that stop looking, or fall from the dole rolls. This was done intentionally decades ago to make our unemployment status look better than it is.
David Cahill
Fri, Mar 19, 2010 : 7:11 a.m.
The unemployment rate in Ann Arbor *city* tends to run several percentage points behind Washtenaw County's rate. My guess is that unemployment in Ann Arbor city is around 6%.
Jeff Westbrooks
Fri, Mar 19, 2010 : 6:22 a.m.
Then you have those of us (and there is many) that have to work far from home (I'm in GA) and can only "visit" our homes, families and friends for a few days every couple of months or so. It's very tough to feel part of a community if you're unable to take any part in that community.
Tammy Mayrend
Thu, Mar 18, 2010 : 7:33 p.m.
I agree that these numbers are not accurate - There are MANY locals who do not "report" their unemployment status and have simply given up on looking for a job!
breadman
Thu, Mar 18, 2010 : 5:05 p.m.
What about the silent unemployed? There are a fair share of them.
CynicA2
Thu, Mar 18, 2010 : 3:20 p.m.
This headline is quite misleading. The real story here is that unemployment around A2 is significantly higher (from 7 to 9.3%) than it was a year ago, and that the number of jobs in Washtenaw county declined by 4-5 % year-to-year. Trying to put pearls on a pig, Nathan?